The Research Scientist II includes the following specialties:

Research Scientist II (Chemical Sciences)

Research Scientist II (Epidemiology/Biostatistics)
Research Scientist II (Food and Drug Sciences)

Research Scientist II (Microbiological Sciences)

Research Scientist II (Physical/Engineering Sciences)

Research Scientist II (Social/Behavioral Sciences)

When completing the minimum qualifications page, you must fill in all applicable experience for each specialty (i.e., chemical, epidemiology/biostatistics, food and drug, microbiological, physical/engineering, and social/behavioral sciences) that you wish to apply for. Once you have taken the exam and receive results, you will not be allowed to add any additional specialty or retake the exam for 12 months.

If you have tested for the Research Scientist II classification as part of any of the specialties in the series within the previous 12 months, it may be too early for you to take this exam. Please check your CalCareer account for the retake date on your exam results notification for this classification BEFORE continuing this exam process. Retaking this exam under another or a new User I.D. and password, Social Security Number (voluntary, not required, information), or name is not allowed.

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

• RESEARCH SCIENTIST II (PHYSICAL/ENGINEERING SCIENCES) - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

3353

For RESEARCH SCIENTIST II (PHYSICAL/ENGINEERING SCIENCES), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-03353

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

Education: The required degree must have been obtained from a recognized U.S. university or from a foreign university approved by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education under the provision of California Education Code Chapter 3, Part 59, Division 10.

Either 1

Experience: Two years of experience in the California state service performing scientific research duties comparable to those of a Research Scientist I in the stated specialty or a closely related field. One year towards completion of a doctoral degree of the stated specialty or a closely related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience. and

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree in the stated specialty or a closely related field.

Or 2

Experience: Three years of research experience in the stated specialty or a closely related field. The research experience must have included responsibility for determining research design, choice of methods, and analysis of findings. The research involved in completion of the dissertation required for the doctoral degree may be substituted for one year of the required experience. and

Education: Possession of a master's degree in the stated specialty or in a closely related field.

Food and Drug Sciences

Meet the requirements to be commissioned by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prior to appointment to the position.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:

1. Current scientific research literature and trends applicable to the scientific research area
2. Principles and procedures of scientific research planning, design, methodology and analysis 
3. Methods of preparation of scientific research reports 
4. Scientific statistical methods and procedures 
5. Data processing techniques 
6. Bibliographic survey or previous related scientific research techniques 
7. Determination and qualification of variables and mechanization of compilation of scientific data

Ability to:

1. Evaluate the adequacy of proposed scientific research designs and techniques
2. Think independently and creatively
3. Establish and maintain cooperative relations with professional staff and with officials of Federal, State, local, university and private research organizations 
4. Communicate effectively 
5. Prepare scientific articles for publication
6. Prepare scientific reports 
7. Provide persuasive and skilled leadership to other staff in scientific research, principles and methods 
8. Apply professional scientific knowledge and administrative ability to resolve a variety of situations 
9. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action
10. Participate as a team member of public health research or scientific investigation projects
11. Make independent decisions in a very limited area of a scientific field
12. Provide information to higher-level scientists in support of decisions on scientific research 
13. Interpret scientific findings and present to higher-level scientists 
14. Apply established guidelines and scientific techniques
15. Serve as team leaders on small scientific projects
16. Make independent, difficult decisions in a specific scientific field

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the RESEARCH SCIENTIST II (PHYSICAL/ENGINEERING SCIENCES) Classification will be established for:

• State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

• A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
• A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Instructions:

Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your EDUCATION or WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer work that you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks:

1. Plan and organize scientific research studies of moderate scientific scope and complexity.
2. Carry out scientific research studies of moderate scientific scope and complexity.
3. Serve as a team member on health projects and investigations within their program on a specific phase of a more complex scientific research study.
4. Act as a technical scientific consultant on health projects and investigations within their program on a specific phase of a more complex scientific research study.
5. Make independent, difficult decisions in a specific scientific field using established guidelines and technical scientific procedures.
6. Solve problems using standard principles, procedures, and techniques for their scientific area of expertise.
7. Collect scientific data in support of health research.
8. Interpret scientific data in support of health research.
9. Develop and maintain a current understanding of latest scientific methods and statistical techniques relevant for the type of studies undertaken by group.
10. Accumulate and maintain scientific literature relevant to scientific investigations and statistical methods.
11. Summarize study findings to be submitted to scientific journals, when appropriate.
12. Present findings at internal and external agency meetings and conferences.
13. Contact other parties when necessary for retrieving data for study purposes.
14. Apply principles and procedures of scientific research planning, design, methodology and analysis.
15. Use methods of preparation of scientific research reports.
16. Determine, qualify, and compile variables of scientific data.
17. Use current scientific statistical methods and procedures, including both qualitative and quantitative.
18. Use data processing and analysis techniques, specifically knowledge of data analysis software in addition to Microsoft Excel.
19. Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with professional staff and with officials of Federal, State, local, university and private research organizations.
20. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, to peer, management, and lay audiences.
21. Prepare and draft detailed scientific reports for publication.
22. Apply professional scientific knowledge and administrative ability to resolve a variety of situations.
23. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
24. Participate as a team member of public health research or scientific investigation projects.
25. Make independent, difficult decisions in a specific scientific field.
26. Provide information to higher-level scientists in support of decisions on scientific research.
27. Interpret scientific findings and present to higher-level scientists.
28. Evaluate the adequacy of proposed scientific research designs and techniques.
29. Serve as team leaders on small scientific projects.
30. Apply security and privacy policies when using confidential and sensitive data.
31. Present scientific research or investigations conducted to health experts and the community.

• State of California

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State of California reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.